Giro d’Italia organisers RCS Sport have introduced the wildcard invitations to this yr’s version of the race. Automated invitees Israel-Premier Tech are set to be joined on the beginning line by Italian ProTeams VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè and Polti-Kometa plus Swiss squad Tudor Professional Biking, who make their Grand Tour debut.
The set of invitations was prolonged to a few groups after Lotto-Dstny opted in opposition to taking over their computerized spot as one of many two top-ranked ProTeams of final season, as was the case final Might.
Nevertheless, with Israel-Premier Tech opting on this yr, there was one much less house out there for wildcard groups, so Corratec-Vini Fantini have missed out on choice after making their race debut final season.
As an alternative, lining up together with the 18 WorldTour groups on the Grande Partenza in Venaria Reale are the 2 different Italian second-division groups. The long-running VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè squad are nearly as good as an computerized invite, having solely missed the 2009 race because the Nineteen Nineties. For the comparatively new Alberto Contador – and Ivan Basso – led Polti-Kometa, squad, nonetheless, this can be their fourth Giro d’Italia invite in a row.
Each groups have a historical past of success on the race, with Polti-Kometa celebrating stage wins through Lorenzo Fortunato atop the Zoncolan in 2021 and Davide Bais at Gran Sasso d’Italia final yr. The Reverberi brothers’ Bardiani squad, which made their Giro debut in 1982, have received 21 phases stretching all the way in which again to Patrizio Gambirasio’s victory at Borgo Valsugana in 1988. Their most up-to-date stage win got here courtesy of Giulio Ciccone at Sestola in 2016.
Israel-Premier Tech can depend two stage wins (Alex Dowsett in Vieste in 2020 and Dan Martin on Sega di Ala in 2021) on their palmarès, with Martin additionally ending tenth two years in the past.
Final Might the workforce impressed all through the race with neo-pro Derek Gee scoring 4 second locations and two fourth locations from the breakaway plus the general combativity prize. The Canadian’s teammates Sebastian Berwick and Marco Frigo additionally took a stage podium apiece.
Tudor Professional Biking, in the meantime, haven’t any Giro expertise however will make their Grand Tour debut in Italy in what would be the squad’s second yr within the ProTeam ranks.
Final yr they took 11 wins together with at Milano-Torino and the Giro di Sicilia and their upgraded roster for 2024 consists of large Italian names and Giro stage winners in sprinter Alberto Dainese and Classics man Matteo Trentin in addition to climber Michael Storer.
The 2024 Giro d’Italia will kick off on Might 4 in Piemonte with a difficult stage to Torino earlier than the second day brings a summit end on the Santuario di Oropa. Phases on the street to the finale in Rome embody 68km of time trialling and main mountain assessments at Livigno and the Passo Brocon.
Elsewhere, RCS Sport introduced wildcard entries for his or her different spring races. Israel-Premier Tech, Lotto-Dstny, and Uno-X Mobility will be a part of the 18 WorldTour groups at Strade Bianche (March 2).
Tirreno-Adriatico (March 4-10) will see the Israeli squad joined on the beginning line in Lido di Camaiore by Corratec-Vini Fantini, Q36.5, Polti-Kometa, Tudor, Uno-X, and Bardiani.
Lastly, the season’s first Monument – Milan-San Remo (March 16) – sees Israel, Lotto and Uno-X take up three computerized invitation locations. Corratec, Polti, Tudor, and Bardiani additionally obtain invites.
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